What we do

People-centred – These activities inform and educate residents and visitors about conservation. They tell the story of our past, of our special wildlife, and of exotic flora and fauna and attract people to the city.

Eco-city – These facilities play important conservation roles, protecting native and exotic flora and fauna.

Wellington Zoo became the world’s first carboNZero certified zoo, thanks to a unique and successful partnership with Beca and the Department of Internal Affairs.

Wellington Zoo had a five-year commitment to reducing its carbon footprint, Beca provided technical expertise in attaining carboNZero certification, and it was made possible by Department of Internal Affairs funding. In addition to being the major donor for the Asia Precinct, ASB Bank funded the cost of the certification itself and the required carbon offsets.

The Asia Precinct encompassing a new Sun Bear exhibit and revamped Sumatran Tiger exhibit was officially opened in September 2012 by Mayor Celia Wade-Brown.

The Green Zoo, Green You sustainability exhibit was also opened by the Mayor in September 2012. This space allows the Zoo to share its sustainability journey with its visitors.

Hero HQ, the Zoo’s reptile and invertebrate exhibit opened in April 2013.

The Zoo was the proud recipient of the Vibrant Gold award at the Gold Awards in June 2013. In addition, Kamala’s Pavilion won a 2012 Wellington Architecture Award for Public Architecture and the NZ Architecture Award for Small Projects in May 2013, and the Asia Precinct was a finalist in the NZ Institute of Builders Awards in June 2013.

In addition to the support of the Council and ASB Bank, during the year the Zoo received a number of donations and bequests, including $300,000 from Pub Charity for the next major capital project, Meet the Locals, and a bequest for $100,000 from a staff member, which was used to purchase an x-ray digital imager for The Nest Te Kōhanga. This will greatly improve animal care outcomes.

​Wellington Zoo’s first successful breeding of Grand Skinks also took place, with three Grand Skinks born – a first for zoo holders in New Zealand. Wellington Zoo holds part of the insurance population of this critically endangered animal for the Department of Conservation.

In conjunction with Massey University, Wellington Zoo runs the Masterate Programme in Zoo Animal and Wildlife Health. The Zoo hosts four veterinary residents each year as they complete placements on the programme. This is the only programme of its type in the world and builds veterinary capability for New Zealand. The Holdsworth Family Trust has agreed to support the Zoo’s financial share of the Veterinary Residency Programme at The Nest Te Kōhanga.

Zealandia

In December 2012 the Council approved operational funding and a new partnership model with the Karori Sanctuary Trust.

Zealandia have secured a Regional Amenities Fund grant for a joint project with Wellington Zoo to improve interpretation and the visitor experience at environmental attractions across the region.

Zealandia, Wellington City Council, Greater Wellington Regional Council, Department of Conservation, Wellington Zoo, Conservation Volunteers, Wellington Natural Heritage Trust, WWF and SPCA are working together on developing a project focusing on a halo area around Zealandia. This is to provide a safe habitat for the native birds flying in and out of the sanctuary. This project is also being consulted on as part of Our Capital Spaces: a draft open spaces and recreation framework for Wellington.

Twenty four kaka fledged 83 kaka chicks, the highest number of pairs and chicks using nest boxes in a season to date.

We support the Zoo and Zealandia for their conservation roles and for their status as nature-based visitor attractions. We assess their success on the basis of visitor numbers and at Zealandia, the education programme attendees.

To measure the success of our investments in promoting the city

Zoo visitors

Source: Wellington Zoo Trust

Zealandia visitors

Strategies around the visitor experience, pricing and membership benefits have been formulated to address declining visitation numbers and these strategies are expected to be launched in the spring of 2013.

Source: Zealandia

Zealandia – education programme attendees

Result: 7645 (target: 5281; 2011/12: 6556; 2010/11: 7068).

A new school holiday programme was introduced and ran successfully during the year. Also work began on a pilot programme with Kelburn School getting involved in the halo project, which aims to involve the community in conservation through pest management and monitoring.

Note: This result is only the number of visits by schools. Next year we will report on the total educational visits (which includes pre-schoolers and university students, and the target will be updated to reflect this).